Feel the tension, and let it go. Experience, and then release. This was the basis of the overall exercise I was led through the afternoon of February 5th. Taking on the form of body-based wellness, the main objective was to bring achievable and accessible mindfulness techniques and beneficial activities to McDaniel students.
This routine with my muscles had me feeling as if I had entered a new area that I hadn’t prior tapped into regarding health and wellness. I am in therapy myself and have collected several tips along the way that help me feel more relaxed as time goes on. However, I was surprised by the simplicity of these exercises as they still brought forth evidentiary results that resembled the main objectives of what Instructor Fields had told me about the practice: “Body-based wellness (BBW) focuses on physical practices and therapies that enhance overall well-being by improving bodily functions, reducing stress, and promoting a mind-body connection.”
It was especially interesting to learn, Fields further explained, that doing these exercises “helps process and release stored trauma in the body.” She said, “Our bodies hold a lot of stress, trauma, and emotions, which can impact overall health. By engaging in body-centered practices, individuals can release tension, regulate their nervous system, and cultivate a deeper awareness of their physical and emotional state.”
Another benefit to these muscle relaxation techniques, as Fields told me, is additionally “Supporting Nervous System Regulation by balancing the body’s stress and relaxation responses.” As the exercises continued, I definitely felt my anxiety subsiding, something that I wasn’t expecting to happen throughout the process. I also felt which areas in my body needed to be focused on during the activity. Body-based wellness routines are a skill, which can be learned over time. “With practice,” Fields noted, “you get better and better at doing so, even in high-stress situations!”
And in this unprecedented climate of stress on top of existing in spring and summer exam season, learning this much about relaxation and thereby going over these relaxing techniques with students is definitely a useful tool to have handy.